West 37th Street, Manhattan
Photographs by John Veltri
In 1966, New York engineering firm Wegman & Co. proposed to solve the problem of congestion in the narrow, densely built traffic artery of West 37th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. In its study Arcading Side Walks, Wegman & Co. suggested eliminating the ground floors of buildings and creating an arcade that would accommodate free pedestrian traffic while adding extra lanes for cars. The firm commissioned John Veltri to photograph every building, parking area, and shaftway in this corridor. He did this between 13 and 18 September 1966.
John Veltri. Photograph from the series Arcading Side Walks Project: Existing conditions of West 37th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues, New York City. 13–18 September 1966. CCA. PH2000:0006
John Veltri. Photograph from the series Arcading Side Walks Project: Existing conditions of West 37th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues, New York City, 13–18 September 1966. CCA. PH2000:0005
John Veltri. Photograph from the series Arcading Side Walks Project: Existing conditions of West 37th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues, New York City. 13–18 September 1966. CCA. PH2000:0010
John Veltri. Photograph from the series Arcading Side Walks Project: Existing conditions of West 37th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues, New York City. 13–18 September 1966. CCA. PH2000:0044
John Veltri. Photograph from the series Arcading Side Walks Project: Existing conditions of West 37th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues, New York City. 13–18 September 1966. CCA. PH2000:0046
Veltri’s survey is part of our collection. It was the subject of our exhibition West 37th Street, Manhattan, photographed by John Veltri between 13 September and 18 September 1966, held in 2003 and 2004.
